100 ways to help your child and school...

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100 ways to help your child and school succeed CommuniCating 1. Give positive feedback and show appreciation for teachers and the principal. 2. Approach interactions with school administration and staff with a positive attitude and an open mind. 3. Listen to others’ viewpoints when having a discussion. 4. Share your child’s strengths, talents and interests with teachers. 5. Share expectations and set goals for your child with his or her teacher. 6. Make appointments as needed to discuss your child’s progress or concerns. 7. Attend parent-teacher conferences with specific questions you want to ask. 8. Decide with your child’s teacher the best way to stay in touch (phone, email, notes, etc.). 9. Understand and reinforce school rules and expectations at home. 10. Participate in informal opportunities to talk with and get to know school administrators, teachers and other staff. 11. Address concerns or questions honestly, openly and early on. 12. Attend PTA or parent meetings regularly. 13. Read classroom and/or school newsletters. 14. Visit your school’s webpage. 15. Know the names of your child’s teacher(s), school principal and school nurse. 16. Read and know your school’s handbook. 17. Request information be available in all languages spoken by school families. 18. Share your family’s practices related to culture, values and parenting with your child’s school. 19. Communicate your perceptions of how parents are treated and, when necessary, work with school staff to improve perceptions and school climate. 20. Notify teachers of any significant changes that have taken place in a child’s life (such as death of a pet, family move, loss of income, family member’s illness or divorce). Student Learning 35. Discuss your child’s school day and homework daily. 36. Know your child’s academic strengths and weaknesses. 37. Provide a quiet, well-lighted place with basic school supplies for studying/homework. 38. Help your child break down big homework projects into smaller, more manageable steps. 39. Develop a consistent daily routine and time for studying and doing homework. 40. Provide encouragement and praise for your child’s efforts. 41. Share your interests, hobbies and talents with your child. 42. Provide your child with books, magazines, newspapers and other materials, and encourage regular reading. 43. View selected TV programs together and then discuss them. 44. Make family trips to the library, zoo, museum or park for a fun learning experience. 45. Talk with your child’s teacher about creating home learning games and activities. 46. Assist with homework, but avoid doing it for your child. 47. Attend school meetings on learning expectations, assessments, and grading procedures. 48. Help set goals and develop a personalized education plan for your child. 49. Participate in activities that help you understand school technology. 50. Help plan and attend family nights on improving study habits, doing homework, etc. 51. Help develop, visit or offer services to your school’s study/tutor center. 52. Participate in academic fairs as a family. There are many ways to be involved with your child’s education. You’re probably doing some of these things already. Maybe it’s calling the teacher to say “thank you” or to ask a question, or attending a parent or school board meeting. You’ll soon see the effects of your efforts— that’s because when parents get involved in their children’s education, everyone benefits. Parenting 21. Meet your child’s friends and get to know their parents. 22. Take advantage of family programs and resources offered at the school. 23. Work with others to establish a parent resource center at the school. 24. Help create a school toy/book lending library and visit it regularly. 25. Assist in developing parent support programs/groups. 26. Arrange to visit your child’s classroom or have lunch with your child at the school. 27. Seek out classes or information on child development, learning styles, discipline, etc. 28. Attend parent education fairs and other special events at school. 29. Start a parent book club to discuss current publications. 30. Help create and/or contribute to a school newsletter on parenting. 31. Promote and volunteer for before- and after-school programs. 32. Build an at-home child I.D. file including items such as medical records, pictures and fingerprints. 33. Make donations and/or offer to work at clothing drives and food banks to benefit economically-disadvantaged families in the community. 34. Ask teachers or school counselors about how to talk with your child about tough topics. California State everychild. onevoice. ®

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Page 1: 100 ways to help your child and school succeeddownloads.capta.org/pi/100WaysToHelpChildSucceed.pdf · 100 ways to help your child and school succeed CommuniCating 1. Give positive

100 ways to help your child and school succeed

CommuniCating

1. Give positive feedback and showappreciation for teachers and the principal.

2. Approach interactions with schooladministration and staff with a positiveattitude and an open mind.

3. Listen to others’ viewpoints when having adiscussion.

4. Share your child’s strengths, talents andinterests with teachers.

5. Share expectations and set goals for yourchild with his or her teacher.

6. Make appointments as needed to discussyour child’s progress or concerns.

7. Attend parent-teacher conferences withspecific questions you want to ask.

8. Decide with your child’s teacher the bestway to stay in touch (phone, email, notes,etc.).

9. Understand and reinforce school rules andexpectations at home.

10. Participate in informal opportunities to talkwith and get to know school administrators,teachers and other staff.

11. Address concerns or questions honestly,openly and early on.

12. Attend PTA or parent meetings regularly.

13. Read classroom and/or school newsletters.

14. Visit your school’s webpage.

15. Know the names of your child’s teacher(s),school principal and school nurse.

16. Read and know your school’s handbook.

17. Request information be available in alllanguages spoken by school families.

18. Share your family’s practices related toculture, values and parenting with yourchild’s school.

19. Communicate your perceptions of howparents are treated and, when necessary,work with school staff to improveperceptions and school climate.

20. Notify teachers of any significant changesthat have taken place in a child’s life (suchas death of a pet, family move, loss ofincome, family member’s illness ordivorce).

Student Learning

35. Discuss your child’s school day andhomework daily.

36. Know your child’s academic strengths andweaknesses.

37. Provide a quiet, well-lighted place with basicschool supplies for studying/homework.

38. Help your child break down big homeworkprojects into smaller, more manageablesteps.

39. Develop a consistent daily routine andtime for studying and doing homework.

40. Provide encouragement and praise foryour child’s efforts.

41. Share your interests, hobbies and talentswith your child.

42. Provide your child with books, magazines,newspapers and other materials, andencourage regular reading.

43. View selected TV programs together andthen discuss them.

44. Make family trips to the library, zoo,museum or park for a fun learningexperience.

45. Talk with your child’s teacher about

creating home learning games andactivities.

46. Assist with homework, but avoid doing itfor your child.

47. Attend school meetings on learningexpectations, assessments, and gradingprocedures.

48. Help set goals and develop a personalizededucation plan for your child.

49. Participate in activities that help youunderstand school technology.

50. Help plan and attend family nights onimproving study habits, doing homework,etc.

51. Help develop, visit or offer services to yourschool’s study/tutor center.

52. Participate in academic fairs as a family.

There are many ways to be involved with your child’s education.

You’re probably doing some of these things already. Maybe it’s calling the teacher to say “thank you” or to

ask a question, or attending a parent or school board meeting. You’ll soon see the effects of your efforts—

that’s because when parents get involved in their children’s education, everyone benefits.

Parenting

21. Meet your child’s friends and get to knowtheir parents.

22. Take advantage of family programs andresources offered at the school.

23. Work with others to establish a parentresource center at the school.

24. Help create a school toy/book lendinglibrary and visit it regularly.

25. Assist in developing parent supportprograms/groups.

26. Arrange to visit your child’s classroom orhave lunch with your child at the school.

27. Seek out classes or information on childdevelopment, learning styles, discipline,etc.

28. Attend parent education fairs and otherspecial events at school.

29. Start a parent book club to discuss currentpublications.

30. Help create and/or contribute to a schoolnewsletter on parenting.

31. Promote and volunteer for before- andafter-school programs.

32. Build an at-home child I.D. file includingitems such as medical records, picturesand fingerprints.

33. Make donations and/or offer to work atclothing drives and food banks to benefiteconomically-disadvantaged families inthe community.

34. Ask teachers or school counselors abouthow to talk with your child about toughtopics.

California State

everychild. onevoice.

®

Page 2: 100 ways to help your child and school succeeddownloads.capta.org/pi/100WaysToHelpChildSucceed.pdf · 100 ways to help your child and school succeed CommuniCating 1. Give positive

Partnering with the SChooL

70. Learn about school and district policiesand practices that affect children.

71. Voice your support or concerns on anyissue that will affect your family.

72. Serve on school task forces that examinesuch things as school dress codes or bullyprevention policies.

73. Participate in meetings to determinespecial educational needs and services.

74. Attend workshops on problem solving,conflict resolution and public speaking todevelop your advocacy skills.

75. Serve on school advisory councils or

committees on curriculum, discipline andso forth.

76. Become part of a school-basedmanagement team with teachers and theprincipal.

77. Encourage and support children to servein student leadership positions.

78. Help your school create a student’s rightsand responsibilities guide for families.

79. Attend PTA, school board and/or townmeetings, and speak to issues of concern.

80. Learn candidates’ positions andparticipate in school board elections.

81. Work with teachers and schooladministrators to develop a parentinvolvement policy.

82. Write, call or visit local or state decisionmakers to support or oppose proposededucation legislation.

83. Participate in petition drives or letter-writing campaigns to Congress regardinglegislation affecting public schools andother child-related issues.

84. Give testimony at public hearings insupport of or in opposition to proposededucation legislation.

85. Vote in local, state and federal electionsfor public officials who support education.

CoLLaborating with the Community

86. Find out about and use information oncommunity resources and organizations.

87. Help your school develop a directory ofsocial and community services.

88. Make local agencies and businessesaware of what’s happening at your school.

89. Help coordinate and participate in eventsthat support community groups.

90. Talk with employers about holding parentmeetings or parenting workshops on-site.

91. Encourage employers to adopt flexiblework schedules and time off so thatemployees might attend school functions.

92. Ask employers and local businesses tomake donations and support schoolprograms.

93. Help organize and/or participate incommunity health fairs.

94. Recruit community members (seniors,business people) to volunteer at school.

95. Become active in community groups suchas YMCA and Boys and Girls Clubs.

96. Serve on local community advisorycouncils and committees.

97. Work with local authorities and publicofficials to sponsor or participate incommunity events.

98. Help organize and/or participate in acommunity “cleanup” or “beautification”project.

99. Encourage and facilitate your child’sparticipation in community service.

100. Be a role model; be active in communityservice yourself or together with yourchild.

© 2006 PTA All rights reserved

Share your success stories and tips with California State PTA. Email [email protected] with the details.

VoLunteering

53. Respond to school surveys regarding yourinterests, talents and skills.

54. Let school staff know your availability tovolunteer (days, times and how often).

55. Coordinate and participate in evening andweekend volunteer activities at school.

56. Assist your child’s teacher in the classroomor on field trips when you are able.

57. Work with school staff and teachers todevelop volunteer activities you can dofrom home.

58. Assist school staff and educators increating a warm and welcomingatmosphere for parents.

59. Help provide child care and/ortransportation for volunteering parents.

60. Collaborate to develop creative ways touse volunteers at school.

61. Work with others to develop volunteer jobdescriptions and evaluations.

62. Assist school staff in recruiting parentsand community members as volunteers.

63. Attend training and orientation on how tobe an effective volunteer.

64. Learn and uphold school discipline, confi-dentiality and other policies as a volunteer.

65. Set a time to talk regularly with schoolstaff and educators with whom you areworking.

66. Participate in organizing and planningways to recognize and appreciatevolunteers.

67. Respond to school surveys/questionnaires

on the effectiveness of volunteerprograms.

68. Help develop and distribute a volunteerdirectory to parents, school staff andteachers.

69. Volunteer your consulting services in yourareas of expertise to school staff oreducators.